Arafura Games open in spectraculer style
By Primastuti Handayani
DARWIN, Australia (JP): As Nova Peris-Kneebone brought the torch to the cauldron, nearly 15,000 people in the Marrara Sporting Complex's football stadium rose and applauded last night's spectacular opening ceremony of the Arafura Games.
About 5,000 athletes and officials from 29 countries, the highest number of participants in the biennial event's history, marched in the parade of contingents.
"We'll top the 5,000 mark, which is extremely pleasing news," said games general manager Wally Mauger.
"But the Arafura Games is not a matter of numbers. This event is more about sport and forging international and business relations."
About 4,000 athletes and officials took part in the 1995 games.
Boxer Otong Kosasih, the 1997 Golden Glove champion, had the honor of carrying Indonesia's red-and-white flag before softball athletes Radhiana Iskandar and Tony Pratono, wearing Balinese costume, and the 131-strong team.
The unique dress of Radhiana and Tony drew attention and many athletes from other countries asked for photographs together.
Athletes from Japan, Tahiti, Fiji and Thailand also wore traditional costume.
The entertaining ceremony started at 7:30 p.m. local time. Children dressed in yellow and black walked onto the field and formed groups of five. They were followed by young girls wearing traditional costumes from several countries, including India, Thailand and Japan.
As they all came close to the stage, fireworks lit up the chilly night sky.
The lights were suddenly turned off and a man wearing a black suit stood up in the middle of the stage and amused the audience with a spectacular laser display against the background of fireworks.
The official games mascot Rocky the Rock Wallaby then bounded onto center stage and asked the spectators to make waving motions throughout the stadium.
Brunei Darussalam led the alphabetical procession of teams and was followed by Cambodia.
Huge applause greeted the host Northern Territory team, also the largest contingent, as it walked into the stadium.
Peris-Kneebone, the first Territorian and Australian aboriginal Olympic gold medalist in hockey, carried the torch to the cauldron followed by the Darwin Running Club. They had taken a route from the Parliament House through Darwin city along Bagot Road to the venue.
Choir
Well-known singer Karen O'Shea sang Arafura, Arafura accompanied by a children's choir before nearly 300 students put on a gymnastics display.
Five parachuters from the army's Red Berets also took part in the ceremony. A helicopter flew low above the stadium, carrying the Northern Territory's flag of stars and a desert rose.
Members of the marching band of the army and navy gave a special touch to the ceremony.
A drum performance, highlighting traditional percussion playing and dances, preceded the performance of international guitarist Tommy Emanuel to close the ceremony.
For the first time since the event was held in 1991, the opening ceremony was televised around the world.
Information on the games is also available through the website.
"Sporting neighbors" is the motto of the games and it was demonstrated last night when participants left their contingents to mingle and take photographs with representatives of other countries in the center of the stadium.
Indonesia will compete today in badminton, track and field, sepak takraw, softball and swimming.